Typewriting machine



Sept. 13, 1932 H. s. LASHER 7 TYPEWRITING MACHINE V Filed July 17, 19282 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORI $444M dw ATTORNE Sept. 13, 1932. H. s. LASHERTYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORPatented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE HIRAM S. LASH ER,OF NEW YORK, 11'. Y ASSIGNOR '10 UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OFNEVT YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TYIPEWBITING MACHINEApplication filed July 17,

The present invention relates generally to continuous-billingtypewriting machines of the kind disclosed in the patent to Wernery andSmith 1,132,055, and more particularly to means for securing frequentre-registratlon of superposed forms of a work-web fed through themachine.

\Vork-webs are often composed of separate web-plies, each ply bearing asuccession of forms of the same length. In feeding, outer plies tend tocreep ahead of the inner plies, and since this creeping is cumulative 1twill cause the superposed forms of a set to get out of register if thecreeping is not frequently adjusted or corrected. It is usual to bringall the typed forms of a set into re-registration just before the set issevered from the Web. Heretofore this re-registering of the forms hasusually been secured b providing a plurality of holes through eachorm-section adjacent the leading edge thereof, and arranging pin-memberson the typewriting machine to engage in the holes.

The alignment holes being adjacent the top edge of the form, there isdanger of important printed information on the forms being partlyobliterated because of cutting the holes. Also, the forms are likely tobe torn in handling, and the forms cannot be filed satisfactorily incertain kinds of looseleaf books. The main object of the invention is toovercome this difliculty.

Heretofore, forms have usually been bound by their top edges, and it hasbeen diflicult to lift the sheets sufficiently clear of the binder togain information as to data and typing which is under or near saidbinder. An advantage of the invention is that the sheets may be bound bytheir lower edges, making it very convenient to pick up the top edgesand run them over to find any desired sheet.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision ofre-registering pin-members or projections on an Underwood continuous-billing typewriting machine, which are disappearing and normallydisposed out of the path of a work-web as its being line-fed thereoverin said machine and movable to working positions for engaging inregistering holes which are devised adjacent the bottom 1928. Serial No.293,457.

edges of sets of forms of the webs. The pins are adjustable crosswise ofthe web, and may be used with different sizes of forms having varyingarrangements of their alignment 'members beneath the paper table aresupported by the latter being mounted for lateral adjustment and to becapable of projection upwardly through the slot, to engage inregistering holes in the bottom edge portion of each set of forms.Manually-operable means are provided for projecting the pins into theholes in the forms after the carbons are stripped, and while thework-web is still in a straightened condition. The pins may projectright up through the printing field of the web, but provision is madefor the stripping of the carbons, and for the line-feeding of the web,by droppin the pins out of the path of the carbons an web temporaril There-registering pins are placed ri' t at the delivery side of the laten,immediately in advance of the tear-o knife, where usually a blank spaceis left upon the form. No holes have to be made at the top of the form,where they would be apt to cut out the printed matter with which the topof a form is usually filled up.

Neither do holes have to be made at the side of the form, which woulddemand an increase in the width of the web. A device locks thepin-members in effective positions, and the locking device isautomatically releasedupon return of the platen to typing position, andthe pin-members are automatically withdrawn from the work-web.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means formaking the locking device effective for controlling the pin-memberswherever adjusted.

Another feature resides in means for readily providing pin-members ofdifferent diam- 'eters for fitting snugly in registering holes ofdifferent sizes.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, front to rear, throughan Underwood continuous-billing typewriting machine having my inventionapplied thereto. The registering pin-members are shown just after beingmoved to effective ositions to engage in holes in a set of forms romwhich the carbons have been stripped.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 in which the platen-displacingframe is shown at the moment it is returned from the Figure 1 positionto typing osition and just before the locking device or the pin-membersis released.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but at a later stage theplaten-frame being shown in typing position and the pin-members havingbeen withdrawn from the holes in the typed form, and the latter partlysevered.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front perspective view of an Underwoodcontinuous-billing typewriting machine having my invention appliedthereto, the platen-displacing frame being shown in its inverted ordisplaced position and the pin-members being shown in their normalpositions ready to be moved to engage in alignment holes of the leadingset of forms from which the carbons have been stripped.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view illustrating the manual projectionof the pinmembers and the automatic operation of the device whichlatches the pin-members in projected positions.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the carriage of anUnderwood continuous-billing typewriting machine having my inventionapplied thereto. The platen-displacing frame is shown in positionadjacent its normal typing position with the pin-members still inengagement in the alignment holes of a set of forms.

In an Underwood continuous-billing typewriting machine of theWernery-Smith kind, types 10 strike against a platen 11 on a shaft 12journaled in side plates 13 of a platen-displacing frame 14 which ispivotally mounted on a. shaft 15 journaled in the forward ends of acarriage 16. Lower feed-rolls 17 engage against the platen 11, and arear paper-table 18 guides work-pieces between the platen and thefeed-rolls.

The platen may be line-spaced by usual instrumentalities, not shown, orby a thumbwheel 20 fast on the outer end of a stub-shaft 21 which isjournaled in the right-hand end plate of the carriage. To the other endof the shaft 21 is fastened a gear-wheel 22 which meshes with a pinion23 which engages a gear-wheel 2 fast on the platen-shaft 12.

A work-web W, havin a plurality of separate web-plies 25, may fie fedfrom the rear past the platen, and carbon-sheets 26 may be heldinterleaved between the plies by a carbon-carrier 27 which runs on atrack 28 laterally movable with the carriage, and which has its forwardend fastened thereto. The parts mentioned hereinbefore may be of usualconstruction.

Each of the plies 25 of the web W is printed with a succession of forms30 separated by lines 31. Each form of a web-ply is nor- 'mally inregister longitudinally with a form of each of the other web-plies, sucha superposed group of forms being called a set. The

carbon-interleaved web-plies 25 are conducted forwardly between twoupstanding sideedge gages 32 and pass in a usual way between thedisplaced platen 11 and a usual cut-ofl' knife 33 mounted on theplaten-displacing frame.

The creeping of the web-plies 25 is prevented by punching two or morealignment holes 35 through each set of forms adjacent the lower edgethereof, in the typing field of the web, and providing devices whichcarry pin-members for engagement in the holes when the forms areapproximately gaged to cutting-0E position by a usual gage 36, which isadjustably mounted on a gagerod 37, fast to a strong, stiff cross-bar38, which extends between the side plates 13 of the platen-displacingframe, the cross-bar having transversely disposed T-shaped end portionswhich are riveted to the side plates.

As usually constructed, an Underwood continuous-billing typewritingmachine is provided with a paper-table at the delivery side of theplaten, which is fixed to the platendisp'lacing frame. In the device ofthe present invention, for securing advanta es which will presentlyappear, a paper-ta le 40 is mounted at the delivery side of the platenfor adjustment longitudinally of the web toward and from the platen.Adjustment of the table is secured by providing two elongated slots 41in the table perpendicular to the bar 38 and fastening the table to thebar by screws 42 whose heads project but slightly above the Work-face ofthe table 40.

Pin-members for re-registering the holes 35 may be provided in the formof screws 43, each having a slotted and substantially halfround head 44,an elevation of which is shown in Figure 3. Each screw has a short shankwhich is threaded in an upward extension 45 of an arm 46 which isdisposed substantially parallel to the table 40 a short distance belowits normal position. A variety of screws 43, having different sizes ofscrewheads 44, may be provided with each machine for use with formswhich have diiferent sizes of alignment holes 35, it being understoodthat the screw-heads should fit snugly in the alignment holes tofunction properly.

Ill

' along t The rear and upper end of each arm 46 is fast to a hub 47which is slidably mounted on a horizontal frock-shaft 48 journaled 1ndownturned integral ears 49 on the sides of the table adjacent its upperend. The shaft, which is parallel with t e platen, may

be held against endwise of lateral dis lacement by a collar 50 which isfastene by a screw 51 and rests against the right-hand ear 49, and bydevices at the left-hand end of the shaft, which will be describedhereinafter. The shaft 48 has a lengthwise groove 52. Thumb-screws 53may be tapped in the hubs 47 and have their leading ends turned down toform keys or pin-elements which will fit snu ly in the groove 52. Thesescrews are e ective to hold the arms 46 securely against lateralmovement along the shaft 48 or angular movement therearound, whileermitting adjustment of the arms e shaft.

The pointed heads 44 of the screws 43, which are normally disposed flushwith the work-face of the table 40, must at times project up through thetable. To permit this movement, and also to permit the screws to belaterally adjustable for use with different widths of forms, which havetheir alignmentholes 35 spaced at different distances, there is provideda long lateral slot 54, slightly wider than the diameter of the largestscrewheads 44. This slot 54 in the table 40 is parallel to the shaft 48and platen 11. The slot 54 permits the screw-heads to be pro- 'ectedthrough the table 40 in any position in which they may be set, in thetyping field of the web.

,The required data is manifolded on a set of forms 30, and a usualplaten-locking lever 55, mounted on a lateral rock-shaft 56, is pushedrearward to released position against the action of a usual spring 58coiled around the shaft. After swinging the platen-displacing frame toits uppermost position, the carbons 26 may be stripped in the usual way,and the leading ends of the: typed set of forms may be pulled up againstthe cut-off gage 36. In this position of the work-web (Figure 1),

the holes 35 of the leading set of forms are positioned substantiallyopposite the screwheads 44, and the leading edges of the forms areprobably slightly uneven. In this position of the platen-displacingframe 14, it will be noted that the under side of the worktable isturned up and the work-face of the table is turned down.

For moving the screw-heads or re-registering devices 44 through the slot54, and into the holes 35, the rock-shaft 48 is rocked clockwise againstthe action of a spring 57 coiled about the rock-shaft. The shaftrotatingmeans may include a short crankarm 60 having a hub 61 fastened to theshaft. The arm 60 extends toward the platen and has a flange 62 whichserves as a fingerpiece. The spring 57 is formed with a hook 64 to catchupon short arm 63. The other end of the spring is fastened in a holethrough a down-turned flange 65 on the upper end of the table 40. Aback-stop for the arm 60 is formed by having the toe 63 abut against theflange 65. The spring 57 is effective to normally swing the arms 46 awayfrom the paper-table 40.

The screw-heads or re-registering devices 44 are preferably moved intoholes 35 by the operator pressing on the fingeriece 62 with the lefthand, this being done ust after the right hand (which holds the leadingedges of the typed forms against the cut-off gage 36) has started toswing the platen-displacing frame down to normal typing position.

. For mechanically holding the re-registermg devices 44 engaged in theholes 35 while the platen-frame is being returned the remainder of theway back to typing position, devices are provided which automalticallylock the same. 'The locking devices may include an arm 70 joined to ahub 71, which is fastened by a screw 72 on the left-hand end of theshaft 48, adjacent the left ear 49. It will be noted that the hub 71co-operates with the collar 50 to prevent lateral displacement of theshaft 48. yThe arm 70 extends toward the platen 11 alongside a holdingpiece 73 of a latch generally designated as 74, the piece 73 belngpivoted about a screw '75, threaded in an axial hole in one end of apost 76, which has its other end fastened to the cross-bar The outer endportion of the holding piece 73 is disposed below the screw 75 and abutsagainst the side of the arm 70 adjacent the edge of the latter nearestthe table 40 which, in the Figure 1 osition, is then the lower edge. Aspring 77, coiled about the post 7 6, has one end fastened to thecross-bar 38 and the other end arranged to urge the holding piece 73against the arm 70.

When the finger-piece 62 is depressed to the full extent of its throw,the edge of the arm 70, farthest from the table 40, will be moved downenough to let the trigger holding piece 73 snap over it in acounterclockwise direction. A depending stop-flange 78 on the right-handedge of the holding piece 73 strikes the right-hand side of the arm 70and arrests the holding piece in effective position over the arm. Inthis position the arm holes 35 in the typed set of forms 30, in effect,

clip the web-plies together and prevent .displacement of any formrelative to another.

The screw-heads are so disposed that the bottomedge of the web-form willbe dlsposed at the cutting edge of the knife when the holes of the formare re-registered by the screwheads or devices 44.

It is a feature of the present invention to providesimple compact meansfor unlocking .the arm 70, upon-return of the platen-displacing frame totyping position, after the Web-phes have been gripped between thefeed-rolls and the platen 11. To this end,

the latch 74 is provided with a trigger-arm 80 joined to the piece 73 ata substantial right angle, and extending leftwardly over the arm 70adjacent the left-hand side plate 13. The inner portion of thetrigger-arm 80 is disposed parallel with the cross-bar 38 far enoughabove arm 70 to permit a counterclockwise movement of the latter thatwill be sufiicient to withdraw the re-registering devices 44 below thework-face of the papertable 40. The outer portion of. the arm 80 is bentdown at an acute angle and 15 then bent again parallel to its innerportion, so as to be disposed a short distance nearer thepaper-tablethan a usual inreachmg locking pin 81 fast in the left-hand side plate13. When the platen-displaclng frame 1s -swung back to typing positionthe pin 81 strikes a forward cam-edge 82 of a hook 83 on the lockinglever 55. A pin 84, fastened to the right-hand side plate 13, engages acam-edge of a usual locking lever, not shown, which is mounted on theright-hand end of the rock-shaft 56. The pin 81 cams the lever 55rearwardly until the pin slips under the extreme forward end of the book83, whereupon the spring 58 is efiective to throw the lever 55 forward,and the hook 83 strikes the trigger-arm 80, which is then disposed justabove the pin 81. The platen 11 will have engaged the lower feed-roll 17just before the hook 83 clears the pin 81. The triggerarm 80 and theholding piece 73 are swung clockwise enough to cause the latter to bemoved clear of the arm 7 O. The spring 57 is then effective to swing thearm and the and the t ped set of forms may be severedarms 46 away fromthe paper-table 40 and withdraw the re-registering devices 44 from .theholes 35. The platen is now locked down by the hook 83 engaging over thepin 81,

by the knlfe 33.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Havingthus described my invention, I

claim:

1. In a continuous-billing t pewriting machine having a platen arounwhich may be fed a work-web including a plurality of separate superposedform-printed web-plies,

each form having a plurality of holes adj acent its bottom edge whichnormally register with the holes of the superposed forms.

the combination with a platen-displacing frame, of a paper-table at thedelivery side of said platen mounted on said frame for adjustment towardand from. said platen, and provided with a laterally-disposed slot,pinmembers supported by said table below the tions, whereby saidpin-members retain said" plies whlle said platen-frame is returned totyping position, and means for automaticaL ly releasing said lockingdevices upon return of said platen-frame to typing position, wherebysaid pin-members are withdrawn from said forms by s ring-action.

2. In a continuous illing typewriting machine having a platen aroundwhich may be fed a work-web having a plurality of separate superposedform-printed web-plies, each form having a plurality of alignment holesadjacent its bottom edge which normall register with the holes of thesuperposed orms, the combination with a platen-displacing frame, havinga web-severing knife and a leading-edge gage, of pin-members mounted ondevices supported on said frame arranged for moving said pin-membersfrom normal ineflective'positions to engage in said holes,

to bring a typed set of forms into accurate registration with each otherbefore they are severed from said work-web, and means for adjusting saidpin-members crosswise and lengthwise of said work-web, whereby they maybe used with forms of diiferent sizes having varying arrangements oftheir pinengaging holes; said pin-members being in proximity to saidknife but in advance thereof.

3. In a continuous-billing typewriting machine, having a platen aroundwhich may be fed from the rear a composite work-web including a.plurality of separate superposed form-bearing plies interleaved withcarbons,

each form of each ply having a plurality of alignment holes ad'acent-itsbottom edge, the combination wit an upwardly-displaceable platen-frame,means for stripping the carbons, and a tearing-01f gage against whichthe leading ends of said web-plies maybe abutted when in a straightenedcondition, of a paper-table at the delivery side of said platen mountedfor adjustment lengthwise of said web, web-clipping devices effectivefor.

preventinglon itudinal movement of the separate webies relative to eachother while said platen is being returned from its intersect the planeof said table to engage in Said alignment holes of said forms, saidtable having a lateral opening for the passage of said pin-like memberstherethrough, means for adjusting said pin-like members laterally, andinstrumentalities for adjusting said tableand said pin-like memberstogether longitudinally of said work-Web, whereby said pin-like membersmay be used With different widths and lengths of forms having differentarrangements of alignment holes.

4. The structure described in claim 3, characterized by the pin-likemembers being supported on the paper-table, and said paper-.

table being mounted for adjustment longitudinally of the web toward andfrom the platen on a member of the platen-displacing frame. 7

5. The device described-in claim 2, having means engaging the pin-movingdevices for locking said pin-members in their effective web-engagingpositions, said means co-operative with the pin-moving devices at allpositions to which said pin-members may be so adjusted.

6. In a typewriting machine, having a platen around which may be fed a-work-web including separate superposed form-bearing plies interleavedwith carbons, each form of each ply having a plurality of alignmentholes adjacent its bottom edge, the combination with a displaceableplaten-frame, a tearing-off knife, and a tearing-01f gage against whichthe leading ends of said web-plies may be abuted, of a paper-tableadjacent to said knife at the delivery side of said platen and v mountedfor adjustment lengthwise of said web, and pin-like members supportedbelow said table and mounted for upward movement to engage in said holesof said forms, said table having a transverse slot for the passage ofsaid pln-like members, means for adjusting said pih-like members alongthe slot, instrumentalities for adjusting said table and said pin-likemembers together longitudinally of said work-web, instrumentalitiessupported by said paper-table for moving the pin-like members throughthe slot in said table when the platen is dis-v placed, devicessupported on said table, and other devices co-operating with saidtablesupported devices for locking said pin-like members in effectiveengagement in the alignment holes of the work-web.

7. In a typewriting machine, having a platen around which may be fed awork-Web including separate superposed form-bearing plles interleavedwith carbons, each form of each ply having a plurality of alignmentholes adjacent its bottom edge, the combina tion with a displaceableplaten-frame, a tearlng-off knife, and a tearing-off gage against whichthe leading ends of said web-plies may be abuted, of a paper-tableadjacent to said knife at the delivery side of said platen and mountedfor adjustment lengthwise of said Web, and pin-like members supportedbelow said table and mounted for upward movement to engage in said holesof said forms,

said table having a transverse slot for the passage of said pin-likemembers, means for ad usting sa1d pin-like members along the slotinstrumentalities for adjusting said table and said pin-like memberstogether longitudinally of said work-web, instrumentalit-ies supportedby said paper-table for moving the pin-like members through the slot 1nsa1d table when the platen is displaced,-devices supported on saidtable, other devices c'o-operatin with said table-supported devlees forlocking said pin-like members in effectlve engagement in the alignmentholes of the work-web, a locking lever for said platen, and aninstrumentality mounted for engagement with said lever for automaticallyreleasing the locking devices for the pin-members upon returning theplaten-displacing frame to typing position;

In aweb-manifolding typewriting mach1ne havlng a platen around which maybe fed a composite work-web of loose plies, each web-ply made up offorms, each form having a hole adjacent its bottom edge, the holes inthe different plies being in register, said machine also having aplaten-displacing frame for straightening out the webs preparatory tostripping the carbons, and also having a web-severing knife, and a gagefor the leading end of the web, the combination of a paper-table mountedon said displaceable frame at the delivery side of the platen, aweb-reregistering pin, means for holding said pin upon said table forprojection into the holes in the webs to reregister the same, said pinbeing in advance of the knife but in proximity thereto to engage saidhole in the lower end of the form, 'meansoperable upon chine having aplaten around which may be fed a composite work-web of loose plies, eachweb-ply made up of forms, each form having a hole adjacent its bottomedge, the holes in the different plies being in register, said machinealso having a platen-displacing frame for straightening out the webspreparatory to stripping the carbons, and also having a web-severingknife, and a gage for the leading end of the web, the, combination of apaper-table mounted on said displaceable frame at the delivery side ofthe laten, a web-reregistering pin, means for holding said pin upon saidtable for projection into the holes in the webs to reregister the same,said pin beingin advance of the knife but in proximity thereto to engagesaid hole in the lower end of the form, means operable upon said pin,after the web has been straightened out and the carbons have beenstripped, for projecting the pin through the holes in the web-plies toreregister the same, preparatory to tearing off the typed form, wherebythe typed form may be torn off by said knife with the succeeding form inreregistered condition, means for retracting said pin, and a side gagefor the web, said pin being mounted for adjustment longitudinally ofsaid platen upon said table, and said table being mounted for adjustmenttowards and from said knife, together with said pin. 7

10. In a web-manifolding typewriting machine having a platen aroundwhich may be fed a composite work-web of loose plies, each web-ply madeup of forms, each form having a hole adjacent its bottom edge. the holesin the different plies being in register, said machine also having aplaten-displacing frame for straightening out the webs preparatory tostripping the carbons, and also having a web-severing knife, and a gagefor the leading end of the web, the combination of a paper-tablemountedon said displace able frame at the delivery side of the platen, aweb-reregistering pin, means for holding said pin upon said table forprojection into the holes in the webs to reregister the same, said pinbeing in advance of the knife but in proximity thereto to engage saidhole in the lower end of the form, means operable upon said pin, afterthe web has been straightened out and the carbons have been stripped,for projecting the pin through the holes in the web-plies to reregisterthe same, means for locking said pin in its projected positionto enableit to hold the plies together while the displaced platen-frame is beingreturned, and means for automatically withdrawing said lock upon thereturn of the platen-frame, said pin being adjustable relatively to theweb, and the locking and withdrawing means being efi'eotive at. alladjustments of the pin.

11. In a web-manifolding typewriting machine having a platen aroundwhich may be fed a composite work-web formed of loose plies, eachweb-ply made up of forms, each form having separated holes adjacent itsbottom edge, the holes in the different plies being in register, saidmachine also having a platen-displacing frame for straightening out thewebs preparatory to stripping the carbons, and also having aWeb-severing knife,

and a leading-edge gage, the combination of a paper-table mounted onsaid displaceable frame at the delivery side of the platen foradjustment, reregistering pins, means for holding said pins upon saidtable for projection into the holes in the Webs to reregister the same,said pins being inadvance of the knife and in proximity thereto toengage the holes in the lower end of the form, means for projecting saidpins through the holes in the web-plies to reregister the same, meansfor retracting said pins, said pins being adjustable independently ofeach other longitudinally of the platen, and means for efi'ectingadjustment of the pins as a unit towards and away from said knife, atall adjustments of the pins along the platen.

HIRAM S. LASHER.

